when did the thames last freeze over

The main stretch of the Thames through central London last completely froze over in the winter of 1813–1814, during the final famous “frost fair” on the river.

Quick answer

• The last time the River Thames in central London froze solid enough for a full frost fair was the exceptionally cold winter of 1813–1814.

• Upstream, away from the tidal section, the last major freeze of the “higher Thames” was in the severe winter of 1962–63, when large sections froze across.

• Since then, only small, localised patches (for example near Teddington and other upper reaches) have iced over briefly during cold snaps, not a full, walkable freeze like in the 17th–19th centuries.

Why it used to freeze

During the so‑called Little Ice Age and with the old, tightly‑piered London Bridge acting like a partial dam, winter ice could build up until the river froze bank to bank. Frost fairs with stalls, games and even animals on the ice were held several times between the early 1600s and 1814.

Why it probably won’t again

The old bridge was replaced in the 19th century, the river was embanked and deepened, and London’s climate is now milder, all of which keep the water moving too freely to freeze solid. Modern “freezes” tend to be surface slush or edge ice, interesting for photos but nothing like the historical frost fairs.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.